The next day, after college ended, Noemia stepped outside. She checked her phone—an unknown number had sent her a mall address.
"That bastard.... What does he want now? My pendant? I'll take it back...." Noemia muttered under her breath. She got on her bike and started riding.
At the same time, near the mall in a park, Angelo was speaking to a man in a suit and glasses.
"No....don't you dare touch my family. If you do, then..."
"Then what?" Angelo cut him off. "You're Francisco's personal guard. If you won't kill him... I'll kill your entire family."
"You're bluffing. Your days are numbered—I'm going to report this to Sir Francisco," the man snapped and turned to leave.
Angelo leaned in, his breath warm against the man's ear. "Your wife, Sofia, likes gardening, doesn't she? Those red tulips in your yard... they're her favorite, right?"
The man froze.
Angelo chuckled. "It'd be a shame if she had to bury your daughter in that garden, wouldn't it?"
The man's fists clenched, his voice now hollow. "...Fine. Just don't touch them."
"Good." Angelo sat down on a nearby bench. "Do you really think you'll survive this battle?"
"It doesn't matter if I live or die. I just want my family to be safe."
The man activated his PBV and vanished.
Angelo had done the same with two other guards. With their families hanging in the balance, they had no choice but to comply.
Checking his watch, he muttered, "She's late."
Meanwhile, Noemia was nearing the mall when she spotted two of her seniors coming out of a bakery.
"Hey Beatriz, I think your little brother will love this! The cake's adorable," Ines said, escorting her with a smile.
"Thanks! Don't be late tonight, he really likes you," Beatriz grinned.
"I won't," Ines laughed with her.
Noemia watched them from a distance.
Look how happy they are.... and look at me. Just a slave. If my plan works, then maybe I can be free.... but if I fail, I'll be a real-life whore for Angelo, she thought bitterly, her eyes narrowing.
Just then, a car screeched to a halt nearby. Two men jumped out and grabbed Beatriz.
"No! What are you doing?! Let go of me!" she screamed, struggling.
Noemia stopped her bike but didn't move. She just watched.
Ines ran at them, trying to fight. "Let her go, you bastards!"
"Shut up, bitch!" one of the men growled, kicking Ines hard in the stomach.
Beatriz dropped the cake. "No! Please, don't do this! It's my little brother's birthday today....please, have mercy!"
One man shoved her into the car. "You've been chosen by Boss Francisco for tonight's entertainment. Be grateful."
As they pushed her in, Noemia caught a glimpse of a tattoo on one of the men's necks...a snake eating its own tail.
The snake...
Noemia's grip tightened as she sped off on her bike.
Francisco—the boss of Porto. The top player in this city. He serves directly under the head of the Portuguese underworld. Angelo and Jose, his right and left hands. Angelo leads the Leaf Burners, and Jose commands the Snake Tail mafia. This isn't Porto anymore....
A sudden gunshot snapped her out of thought. She skidded to a stop.
A man lay dying on the road. A woman screamed, cradling him. The shooter dragged her away.
People saw it. No one said a word.
Cops arrived moments later, scooping the body into an ambulance like it was routine.
Noemia pedaled forward again.
The air reeked of rotting garbage and stale beer. A woman with hollow eyes sat slumped on the sidewalk, clutching a bundle of cloth...maybe a baby, maybe not. No one looked at her. No one cared.
Children played near a dried bloodstain, laughing as if it was part of the game. A man leaned against a lamppost, eyes twitching before slipping into an alley—another deal, another soul sold.
Noemia's knuckles whitened around her handlebars.
This isn't Porto anymore.... It's hell, wearing a city's mask.
She finally reached the mall and parked her bike. From the field, Angelo spotted her. He was gritting his teeth, staring at his watch.
Before she could look for him, Angelo stormed out and dragged her toward the field.
"Ow! Let go! My hair...it'll rip off!" Noemia screamed.
"You bitch! How dare you keep me waiting?" he growled, dragging her into the mall's washroom. He shoved her under a shower and turned it on.
"No! Please, don't....it's freezing!" she gasped, shivering as cold water poured over her.
The water splashed across the tiles, forming little rivers around her feet.
Meanwhile…
"You monster! I'll kill you myself!" Beatriz screamed at Francisco, her wrists raw and red from the ropes.
Francisco sat like a king on the bed...dark hair, blue eyes, age 25. The strongest player in Porto.
Behind him, a TV screen showed Beatriz's parents on their knees before Jose.
"Please, leave our daughter. We're begging you...." her father sobbed, touching Jose's feet.
"What are you talking about?" Jose said, smiling. "Your daughter came to the Boss's room of her own free will. No one forced her."
Suddenly, a small boy burst forward, knife in hand.
"You bastard! Let my sister go! I'll kill you!" he shouted, stabbing Jose.
"No, Paul!" the mother cried, pulling him back.
Jose didn't even flinch. He walked over to the trembling mother who was shielding her son.
"Please, sir.... He's just a child. It won't happen again...please forgive us..." she begged, bowing low.
"Please don't hurt him," Beatriz cried. "I'll do whatever you want...just let Paul go..."
Francisco stood, grabbing Beatriz by the waist.
"You should've done that from the beginning. Look what you've brought upon your family."
"I'll be your's. That's what you want, right?" she sobbed. "Fine... Just don't hurt them....."
Francisco laughed.